Flight operations diverted as fire breaks out at Lagos airport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has diverted all flight operations from Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) to the D wing following a fire incident at the terminal. According to a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, on Thursday, April 25, officials of the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) were mobilised to contain the fire after a smoke was detected at E54 bridge The statement reads: “At 05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing. “The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs. “Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire. The incident, which had escalated into a fire, was brought under control by 06:41 hrs. “Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building are in progress. In the meantime, all flight operations in Terminal 1 of MMA have been diverted to the D Wing.”

Hadi Sirika: EFCC To Invite Sacked Heads Of FAAN, NAMA, Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to invite all the sacked Heads of agencies of the Ministry of Aviation over the failed Nigeria Air project. The sacked officials are being invited in connection with an ongoing investigation of a former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, relating to money laundering amounting to N8.069 billion. According to Daily Trust, the anti-graft agency is planning to formally invite all the sacked heads of agencies who worked directly under Senator Sirika in the aviation ministry. An EFCC official told the newspaper that letters of invitation to the sacked and suspended officials were already prepared to come over to explain their roles in the alleged different fraudulent activities that took place in the ministry under Sirika. Recall that President Bola Tinubu sacked the heads of Nigeria’s aviation agencies in December 2023, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). Those sacked included Kabir Mohammed of FAAN; Tayib Odunowo of NAMA; Akinola Olateru of NSIB; Prof. Mansur Matazu of NiMet; and Alkali Modibbo, the Rector of NCAT while also suspending the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Musa Nuhu.

FAAN apprehends 21 touts at Lagos Airport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has successfully conducted a series of arrests at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, resulting in the capture of 21 suspects involved in various illicit activities. Among those apprehended were touts, illegal foreign exchange dealers, hawkers, and scavengers. Mr. Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN, disclosed this information in a statement released on Sunday. Emphasizing the importance of creating a sanitized airport environment free from illegal activities, FAAN handed over the suspects to the Police for further investigation and appropriate legal action. The recent arrests are part of FAAN’s proactive approach to combat touting and other illegitimate activities within the airport premises. In collaboration with the Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF) and the Aviation Security Crime Investigation and Intelligence (AVSEC-CII) Unit, FAAN has been conducting targeted raids in recent weeks. These raids have led to the apprehension of not only touts but also cable thieves and other miscreants who pose a threat to airport safety and security. On a specific operation conducted on August 4, 2023, the JMTF and AVSEC-CII raided the ITZ 1 and 2 landside, the car parks, and the airport access roads, resulting in the capture of 21 individuals involved in various illegal activities. FAAN’s Director, Mr. Yakubu-Funtua, sternly warned individuals who have no legitimate business at the airport to refrain from engaging in unlawful acts, as further arrests will be made to uphold the safety and security of airport users and the airport environment. “The Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF) and the Aviation Security Crime Investigation and Intelligence (AVSEC-CII) Unit have since the past few weeks conducted raids in this regard. “Cable thieves and other miscreants have been apprehended in the course of these raids. “On Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) JMTF and AVSEC-CII raided the ITZ 1 and 2 landside, the car parks, and the airport access roads. “In the course of the raid, a total of 21 persons including touts, illegal foreign exchange dealers, hawkers, and scavengers were arrested. “The apprehended suspects have since been transferred to the Nigerian Police Force through the CII for further necessary action,” he said. Reaffirming FAAN’s commitment to its core values of safety, security, and passenger comfort, the director highlighted the authority’s unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest standards for the benefit of all airport users.

Nigeria Air project tarnishing our image, Reps tell Tinubu

*Asks President to stop further action on the project The House of Representatives has said that the Nigeria Air project is highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy, and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community. They further urged President Bola Tinubu to constitute a high-level Presidential committee to undertake a holistic review of the processes of the Nigeria Air project. The Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon Nnolim Nnaji, said this in Abuja after careful evaluation of the issues of Nigeria Air. He said the committee was totally dissatisfied with the actions of the former Minister of Aviation, in going ahead to flag-off the operations of Nigeria Air in spite of a standing court injunction against such. He said this was also without any provision for sustaining the operations of the airline. He said a careful review of the process indicated the exercise to be highly opaque, shrouded in secrecy, shoddy, and capable of ridiculing and tarnishing the image of Nigeria before the international community. ”We want to put on record, that the Committee and indeed the National Assembly had no role in the purported launch of Nigeria Air or anything related thereof. “While the committee and indeed the parliament is not opposed to Nigeria having a National Carrier, as a matter of fact having a National Carrier is highly desirable to us as a people and Nigeria, as a nation.” He however said that such a process should be transparent and all-embracing, adding that the committee would not accept any attempt by any individual or group to hide under the project and siphon the commonwealths of the country. The committee, therefore, directs the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its partners in the Nigeria Air project to immediately suspend flight operations and every other action with respect to Nigeria Air. The committee also advised the Federal Ministry of Aviation with its agency, the NCAA to designate some Nigerian Indigenous Airlines as Flight Carriers, to take advantage of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA). The agreement was said to have been entered by Nigeria, pending when a viable National Carrier comes on board. “In conclusion, looking at the total amount required to fully start the airline which is put at 250,000,000 dollars. “The Nigerian government and its citizenry can raise these funds without necessarily subjecting itself to the ridicule we have been exposed to by this recent episode,” he said. 

Buhari sacks FAAN MD, Yadudu

The Federal Government has removed the Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) Capt. Rabiu Yadudu. Yadudu was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and was relieved of his appointment at the weekend along with five other directors of the agency. Meanwhile, Mr. Kabir Yusuf Mohammed has been appointed as the new managing director for the FAAN and he is expected to resume duty next week. The new FAAN boss was until his appointment, the Regional General Manager, North Central, Airport Manager Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. He was appointed as the Chairman, Aviation Roadmap Implementation Committee in January 2022 by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, a position he effectively combined with his office as the General Manager, Special Duties at FAAN. Sources say similar exercise will be carried out in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and other agencies . Also a gale of resignation of senior personnel has hit the apex civil aviation regulatory: Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The mass resignation, industry sources hinted, is predicated on underhand moves by the Ministry of Aviation to alter the rules to enable the controversial national carrier – Nigeria Air take – off before May 29, 2023. The source hinted that the Ministry of Aviation is putting the NCAA under pressure to waive some aspects of regulation to see the controversial carrier airborne before the administration signs out in less than nine days. Investigations revealed that key personnel have thrown in the towel over pressure to be influenced to act in an unprofessional manner to issue approvals that will birth the controversial carrier. The directorate , experts say, is key to issuing the relevant certificates – Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC), that will qualify the controversial